Multiple Myeloma in a Patient With Familial Mediterranean Fever

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent episodes of painful inflammation in the abdomen, chest, or joints. The coexistence of multiple myeloma (MM) and FMF is an extremely rare event. Here, we report a case of FMF with concurrent MM. A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with FMF since 15 years earlier. She was admitted with a complaint of low back pain. Regarding the presence of back pain, anemia, hypercalcemia, and kidney failure, a diagnosis of MM was suspected. A skeletal survey showed punched-out lesions in the skull. Serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated an immunoglobulin G kappa monoclonal gammopathy, and bone marrow aspiration revealed 30% involvement by abnormally appearing plasma cells, suggestive of MM. Although the association between FMF and MM may be a mere coincidence, further studies are necessary to understand their concurrent development.